Chime unit



Nov. 9, 1943.

` c. L. MCMULLENY CHIME UNIT Filed Sept. 9, 1940 2 Shees-Sheet l Nov. 9, 1943. c. L McMULLEN y 2 sheets-sheet 2 .3

' GHIME UNIT Filed sept. 9, 1940 INVENTOR MM My m .../l..

f my yPatented Nov. 9, 1943 3 Claims.

This invention relates to annunciator chimes and more particularly to the construction of the housing and mounting unit for the tone producers.

An object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of housing, tone producers and electrically operated striking means which will be readily assembled into a compact and efiicient unit and which readily may be mounted on a wall or other support. l

Another Aobject of the invention is to provide a. resonator within which may be mounted a tone producer in the form of a bar, which will produce a pleasing tone of moderate volume.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved adjusting means for tone producers of elongated tubular form so that the distance of the tubes from their striking means may be varied and maintained in any adjustment.

With the above and other objects in view thel invention includes the construction and operation set forth in the following speciilcation and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

' In the accompanying drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, the invention is shown embodied in units adapted for annunciators forprivate homes and oiilces but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as deiining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specication being relied upon for that purpose.

` In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is afront elevation of a complete unit, parts being broken away to more clearly show its construction;

Fig. 2isaplan view of theunitshowninFig. 1;

Fis. 3 is a iront elevation or a modified form of the invention, parts being broken away to more clearly show its construction;

Fig.'4 is aplan view oi the form oi the invention shown in Fig. 3, and

Figf is a detail side elevation partly in section of the tone tube support.

In the above mentioned drawings there have been shown but two embodiments of the invention which are now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modicatlons may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its'broadest aspectethe invention may include some or all of the following principal parts: First. a back plate; second. striker operating means mounted thereon; third, resonators in the form of generally cylindrical hous-` ings mounted on the back plate; fourth, tone producers in the resonators or depending from the back plate, and llfth, a front housing mounted on the back plate and housing and enclosing the striker operating means. In the place of resonators and tone producers within the resonators there may be mounted on the upper part of the back plate a resonator form without atone producer, and depending from adjustable supports on the back plate may be provided to'ne producers in the form of elongated tubes.

Referring more in detail to the figures there is shown at I0 a back plate or support on which the operative elements of the unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are mounted. This plate I9 is formed with -forward extending ilanges II and I2 along its upper and lower edges. Also upon the vertical side edges of the plate I0 are rearward extending short flanges I3. Mounted substantially centrally of the plate I0 are striker operating members I4 adapted to be actuated by suitable solenoids I5. As these striking members are similar to those now used in electric annunciators and form no part oi' the present invention further description is not thought to be necessary.

Secured to the upper and lower anges II and I2 of the plate I0 are resonators I6 similar to each other and within each of which is a tone pro'- ducer in the form of a metal bar Il. The lengths or the bars in the resonators I6 of any single unit are preferably different to give consonant or pleasing tones of diierent pitch. The resonators I I I6 as shown in these figures are made up of metal and are generally cylindrical but with curved ends. Centrally of the upper and lower surfaces of the resonators is an opening I8 sothat the strikers I4 can contact their tone producer Il and the sound produced thereby may reach the outside in sufficient volume to be effective.

To secure the resonators I6 and their tone bars Il in position pairs of screws I9 are employed for each resonator. Each screw I9 has an intermediate flange or head 20 and screw threaded portions at its opposite ends. As shown in Fig. 1, the shorter end of the screw I9 passes through a wall of the resonator I6 and through a flange II or I2 to securely hold the resonator I6 in position by means of nut 2 I. On the longer end of each screw I9 is a short threaded portion adjacent the end over which is tightly screwed a nut 22. The bars I'I t over this end of the screws Il and a re free to vibrate or move slightly up or v the metal 'of the'screws I9. Also the openings f within the bars I1 may have inserts 24 of non-mel shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the back plate 25 along its upper horizontal edge is provided with a Iorwardly extending flange 26. To this ange 26 may be attached as shown a resonator 21. This resonator may' be similar in form to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but is without a tone bar.

The flange 26 is provided with elongated slots 28 on either side extending in a direction parallel with the plane of the back plate 25. Y Within these slots 28 are looped hanger members 29 by means of which the tone tubes 3ILJnay be supported. Preferably and as shown in these figures, the tubes 30 are provided with an extension 3I fitting tightly within a plug 32 heid frictionally within,

the upper end of the tube 30. By means of a cord 33 and a wire link or loop 3l engaging one of the hanger members 29 the tubes 30 may be individually supported for free swinging movement. Mounted on the lback plate 25 are striker operating means 35 similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. By adjusting the members 23 along their slots 28 in the ilange 26 the position of the tubes 30 can be adjusted toward or from their strikers to give the desired volume and quality of tone.

In each of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings there is provided a iront panel 36 substantially covering the back plate I or 25 and exposing only a portion of the resonators I6 or a resonator 21 and the tubes 30. The striker mechanism I or 35 is completely enclosed. This front panel 36 may as shown be made of ornam'ental material removably supported in position by engagement with or over the upper ends of the rearward extending ,anges I3 on the back plate. The panels 35 at either side are bent backward so thatthey will extend to the back panel I0 or 25 and enclose the sides ot the unit 4 as well as the front. The rearward extending iianges I3 extend only partially upward along the side edges of the plates I0 or 25 and the edge of the panel 36 engages over their upper ends. For this purpose the upper portions of the side portions of the panel 36 has inwardly extending anges 31. To remove a front panel 36 it is only necessary to lift it free of the back panel whereupon the panel may be completely removed.

I claim as my invention:

1. An annunciator chime unit comprising in combination, a back plate, a horizontal forwardly extending fiange thereon, a tone producer supported on said flange, striker operating mechanism supported on said back plate, rearwardly extending anges formed on the vertical side edges of said plate, and a iront housing enclosing said striker operating mechanism supported upon said last mentioned flanges.

2. An annunciator chime unit comprising in combination, a back plate, forwardly extending flanges formed along the upper and lower horizontal edges of said plate, tone'producers supported on said flanges, striker operating mechanism mounted on said plate, rearwardly extending flanges formed along the vertical side edges of said plate, and a front housing enclosing said.`

striker operating mechanism, said housing engaging over the upper ends of said last mentioned flanges.

3. An annunciator chime .unit comprising in combination, a back plate, forwardly `extending flanges formed along the upper and lower edges of said plate, resonators supported on said ilanges, tone producers within said resonators and supported from said flanges, striker operating mechanism mounted on said plate and disposed between said resonators, rearwardly extending anges formed along the Vertical side edges of said plate, and a `front housing enclosing said striker operating mechanism, said housing being removably supported over the upper ends of said last mentioned ilanges.

CARLTON L. MCMULLEN. 

